“Pegi pig hir – Cŵn Ebrill – Whibanwr – Gylfinir …..Curlew!
There are over 20 names for one bird across Wales. Arguably no other bird evokes such passion, mystery, and emotion than the Curlew.
If you were to go to any estuary or coastal farmland at this time of year in Wales you may see good numbers of curlew feeding, but these birds could have come from anywhere in Northern Europe. As the name ‘Cwn Ebrill’ / ‘April Hounds’ suggests, we should be seeing them arrive in April and stay through the summer to breed here.
This unfortunately is becoming less and less common. It is predicted that curlew as a breeding population could be extinct in Wales in less than 10 years. A bird that is part of our DNA, our heritage and ancient folklore in Wales may be gone.
The Curlew and its plight in Wales was centre stage in Senedd Cymru, Cardiff on the 8th of October 2024 for ‘The Last Curlew’ event, bringing MS’s together to raise awareness about it’s frightening decline in population.
Speakers at the event, which was arranged by GWCT Cymru, included Huw Irranca-Davies MS Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Llyr Gruffydd MS, Mark Isherwood MS and Owen Williams GWCT Wales Chair and Lee Oliver, GWCT Director for Wales.
Attendees were treated to a feast of canapes made from locally sourced Welsh produce, cooked, presented, and served by students from Coleg Ceredigion with Young Welsh Chef of the Year Sam Everton and lecturer Huw Morgan at the helm.’
The exhibition will include an 8 foot curlew willow sculpture, a life-size bronze curlew sculpture (also by the artist Owen Williams), a steel curlew sculpture – forged from upcycled Welsh steel along with artwork from school groups.
“Today is a celebration of this iconic bird through art, conservation and Welsh produce. We all need to inspire people to take notice of this beautiful symbol of our land, and ensure it is there for generations to come.” Lee Oliver GWCT Cymru Director
GWCT Cymru are leading on a Wales wide project called ‘Curlew Connections’ with partners Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund.